General Update #21

3:12 p.m. - Joyce's oxygen alarm began sounding continuously. According to the oxygen meter, Joyce's levels fall to about 76 (should be around 90). Before Dusty could wake Joyce from her sleeping position in her chair, a passing nurse's aide entered Joyce's room upon heard the alarm (nurse's aide was not one assigned to this section, was returning from lunch via a nearby access way). He noticed that Joyce's oxygen tube was not in place correctly and adjusted it. The nurse's aide asked if Joyce was heading out today, as he had heard she might be going to Good Samaritan. Joyce unresponsive, falling back to sleep. When Dusty shared that Joyce might not be leaving for Good Samaritan until tomorrow, the nurse's aide mentioned that Joyce may be moved to the other side of the floor to be closer to the nurse's station as she is the only patient in left in this half of the floor, and that might be why no one is responding quickly to the oxygen alarm when it sounds to take corrective action. If moved to the other side of the hospital floor, she would be closer to the main nursing station where there would be staff to respond. Dusty investigated after his departure and verified that the East End nurse's station was dormant and without any staff present. 

With 3:30 p.m. fast approaching, Joyce asleep in her chair (oxygen levels now holding steady at 97), and no bowel movement the window for her to be transferred to Good Samaritan is most likely to be missed.

Message(s) from Joyce:
None.

Current location:
Gritman Medical Center, Room 226.

Current pain level:
Unknown.

Visiting information:
No change from previous post.
Confirmed with nurse's station shift leader at 9:30 a.m. - currently only 1 visitor per day for Joyce, no exceptions. Once current visitor departs Joyce's room, no further visits for the rest of the day. No swapping out visitors (example, Dusty cannot remain on hospital grounds while Craig goes to sit with Joyce for an hour and then Dusty returns to room).

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